Salt to New born Baby: The Meitei community of Manipur has a tradition of licking salt as soon as a child is born. In the Meitei community, salt is not just a food item, but is considered a part of every important occasion in life.

The tradition of feeding salt to a newborn baby

Salt for Newborn Baby: In different parts of our country, traditions and customs are associated with every stage of life. One such custom is very popular within a community where many special rituals are observed from birth to death, and salt is considered to be of special importance.

In some parts of our country, there's a tradition of making newborns lick salt immediately after birth, which is considered part of this community's cultural identity. So, let's tell you today about the places where babies are made to lick salt immediately after birth and what impact it has on their health.

Here the child is fed salt as soon as it is born.

The Meitei community of Manipur has a tradition of licking salt upon the birth of a child. Salt is not just a food item for the Meitei community, but is considered a part of every important occasion in life. Locally produced salt, also known as thum, is obtained from natural saltwater sources. Villagers collect water from these sources and boil it to produce salt. This salt is then used in homes and sold in the market. The community also believes that licking salt after birth is essential for children. Similarly, salt is placed in their mouths even after a person's death. Salt is also considered essential for weddings, festivals, and other family events. Thus, salt is considered an integral part of the life cycle.

What do experts say from a health perspective?

Health experts say that giving salt to a newborn baby in the first few months after birth is not advisable. According to the World Health Organization and doctors, babies should be exclusively breastfed from birth until six months of age. Even after solid foods are introduced, it is still advisable to avoid salt and sugar initially. Doctors say that young children's kidneys are not fully developed, so excess salt can be harmful. This puts pressure on the kidneys and can increase the risk of future problems like high blood pressure.

When should salt be given to children?

According to health experts, children should only be given salt in limited amounts after the age of 1. For children between the ages of 1 and 3, the daily salt intake should be kept very low to avoid negative effects on their bodies.